This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
For busy working women, the suit is often the easiest outfit to throw on in the morning. In general, this feature is not about interview suits for women, which should be as classic and basic as you get — instead, this feature is about the slightly different suit that is fashionable, yet professional.
You know spring is near when light blue suits start coming into stores — this one from Reiss is gorgeous; I love the dusty blue color.
The blazer is $425 and available in regular and petite sizes 4-14 (sizes 16-18 sold out online (call your local store if you're hunting); the matching pants are $245.
This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!
Some other blue suits out right now include 1) Express 2) Ann Taylor 3) BCBG 4) Sumissura 5) Talbots 6) Reiss and 7) Max Mara (all pictured below).
Sales of note for 8.30.24
- Nordstrom – Summer Sale, save up to 60%
- Ann Taylor – 30% off full-price purchase; $99 jackets, dresses & shoes; extra 50% off sale
- Banana Republic Factory – 50-70% off everything + extra 20% off
- Bergdorf Goodman – Final Days Designer Sale, up to 75% off; extra 20% off sale
- Boden – 20% off
- Brooks Brothers – Extra 25% off clearance
- Eloquii – Up to 60% off everything; extra 60% off all sale
- J.Crew – 40% off sitewide; extra 60% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – Extra 20% off orders $125+; extra 60% off clearance; 60%-70% off 100s of styles
- Lo & Sons – Summer sale, up to 50% off (ends 9/2)
- Madewell – Extra 40% off sale; extra 50% off select denim; 25% off fall essentials
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Rothy's – End of season sale, up to 50% off
- Spanx – Lots of workwear in the big sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – 25% off regular-price purchase; 70% off clearance
- White House Black Market – Up to 70% off sale
Sales of note for 8.30.24
- Nordstrom – Summer Sale, save up to 60%
- Ann Taylor – 30% off full-price purchase; $99 jackets, dresses & shoes; extra 50% off sale
- Banana Republic Factory – 50-70% off everything + extra 20% off
- Bergdorf Goodman – Final Days Designer Sale, up to 75% off; extra 20% off sale
- Boden – 20% off
- Brooks Brothers – Extra 25% off clearance
- Eloquii – Up to 60% off everything; extra 60% off all sale
- J.Crew – 40% off sitewide; extra 60% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – Extra 20% off orders $125+; extra 60% off clearance; 60%-70% off 100s of styles
- Lo & Sons – Summer sale, up to 50% off (ends 9/2)
- Madewell – Extra 40% off sale; extra 50% off select denim; 25% off fall essentials
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Rothy's – End of season sale, up to 50% off
- Spanx – Lots of workwear in the big sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – 25% off regular-price purchase; 70% off clearance
- White House Black Market – Up to 70% off sale
Some of our latest posts here at Corporette…
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
- What to say to friends and family who threaten to not vote?
- What boots do you expect to wear this fall and winter?
- What beauty treatments do you do on a regular basis to look polished?
- Can I skip the annual family event my workplace holds, even if I'm a manager?
- What small steps can I take today to get myself a little more “together” and not feel so frazzled all of the time?
- The oldest daughter is America's social safety net — change my mind…
- What have you lost your taste for as you've aged?
- Tell me about your favorite adventure travels…
Anon
This suit is beautiful! Unfortunately I am not a fancy business lady so I would never have a reason to wear it.
Anon
I thought so initially, but look at the rise on the pants. It’s quite far to the north for me.
Anon
I’d like to see this with a sunny yellow shell.
Anon
just a random vent. good parking spots at my office are very competitive. they opened some new ones a few years ago and we had a lottery and then a waitlist with the idea being that the next time one is available it would go to whoever is next on the waitlist. so a spot is now available, and my boss has decided that the waitlist doesn’t matter and instead whoever is coming into the office the most days per week should get the spot, which I sort of get, except my colleague who is coming in 4 days a week instead of 3 chose that without any expectation the parking spot would be hers, it was not forced upon her at all. we had the option of full time in office, 2 days work from home or 1 day work from home.
Anonymous
The new situation seems fair to me.
Cat
so by that logic all the spots should be revis-ted based on WFH behavior, right?? ;)
Anon
My guess is that if you have a contract with the parking service, it’s renewable. This is probably for non-renewals that opens up a spot (like a daycare spot).
Anon
I agree that if newly open spaces are allocated based on days in the office, the spaces previously assigned by lottery should also be allocated on this basis.
Anon
This makes sense. There has been a massive reshuffling of many decks due to the pandemic, massive WFH, etc. “Trying to be more fair with scarce resources” doesn’t strike me as a bad thing.
Anon
Do you have a totally transparent waitlist, so you can see who signed up for it when?
NYCer
I don’t know, it seems kind of fair to me. I don’t think it is worth any mental energy being concerned about this.
Anon
This.
Anon 2.0
I have never worked anywhere that parking was competitive and it sounds awful. It does sound reasonable to me though that the person using the parking the most should get the more premium spots. Just another one of those things that would be a non-issue if companies would just embrace full time WFH.
Anon
I’ve worked in a center city for a while and parking in the building is highly sought-after, especially as the weather is either rainy or so hot that a surface lot is not preferred. There is limited bus / light rail service, so most people drive. It’s not preferred by everyone though — due to one-way streets and varying commuting routes, some other places are better for some people
OP
Edited to add there are people coming in 5 days a week and none of them were offered that spot.
Katrinka
Has there been any justification offered? I think commenters are saying “whoever comes in the most days gets the spot” seems fair, but if there are people coming in more often than the person who got the spot, it seems that’s not actually the principle that’s being applied.
Anonymous
are you one of them? no? then leave it. you seem angry that you don’t have the good spot.
Anon
“Is it blue or is it purple” may just be my favorite harbinger of spring. Gorgeous suit!
Anon for this
Weird question. I’m in a very loving, supportive relationship. I feel totally fulfilled. BUT my DH has a friend who is honestly terrible (self-involved, doesn’t respect women) and I can’t stop thinking about him. He’s handsome and very charming and has kind of showered me with praise, and I feel like he takes up so much more of my thoughts now than is rational. It’s not sexual or even romantic, but there is a part of me that is flattered by his attention/flirting and it probably activates some lingering insecurity around seeking male attention from the wrong type of guy.
Does anyone have any experience with thinking about someone you know you’d never actually want to pursue something with? I’m intrigued if it’s common since it feels so irrational.
Cat
super common
Anon
I kind of know what you’re talking about… for me, one of my husband’s friends actually engages with me and talks with me like he finds me interesting, whereas the other friends kind of treat me as an attachment to husband – not rudely but not really connecting in the same way. I don’t think one friend is being inappropriate or flirty or anything, but he engages more than others. Much like your example, he’s also kind of a dog, so not someone I’d be into romantically.
That doesn’t solve your question, but I do get it.
OP
So interesting that it’s basically the same situation! There is something about dog-ish men… the attention can seem so kind/earnest, even when it may be partially their wiring to give lots of attention to women.
Anonymous
One if the major strengths of successful womanizers, is their hyper focus on the woman they are currently talking with, that feeling of being the only woman in the world. They do that with everybody, it’s generally not personal or something to do with you.
Anon
Omg the biggest womanizing slimeball at my old office had Bill Clinton levels of personal charisma. He could make anhone feel like they were the most interesting person he had ever met. He was very intense. He pretty much saved this skill for young, attractive women and is now in his 4th wife, having left each previous wife for the new meat in the office.
OP
Omg this is the exact energy!! It’s such a weird thing… Simultaneously repulsive and yet can be very compelling. One of my nightmares used to be getting caught up with a guy like that and then being subject to all the misery of constantly pining for the affection of someone so skeezy and gross.
Anne-on
Fwiw I’d think it’s because these types of guys don’t have close female friends or ppl to connect with on a deeper or more emotional level and you’re ‘safe’ in terms of being off limits so they may be seeking that type of connection from you. I’ve definitely experienced that with boyfriends before where a girlfriend takes on a mom/sister confessor type of relationship to other guys in the friend group.
Anon
A warning about Reiss sizing —
The website states that sizes on the US site are US sizes. But I recently ordered a size 6 from the US site, and received a UK size 6, which was extremely tiny. Reiss Customer Service hasn’t responded to my question about this. Since I don’t know if there was an error in processing my order, or if the information published on the website is wrong, I don’t plan to buy anything else from Reiss online.
Anonymous
I’ve had that experience with Reiss as well. It runs small.
Anon
When I’ve ordered I’ve gotten US sizes.
Anonymous
Me too, they just don’t vanity size.
Cat
ISO Netflix recs. Just finished Anxious People which we found the perfect mix of sweet – funny – serious – ridiculous, similar to Home for Christmas. (Should I move to Norway or Sweden?) Anyone here have better suggestions than the algorithm does?
Nylongirl
Tick tick boom! Awesome movie!
Anon
+1
AnonQ
Oh I’ve been wondering about that series! Anxious People is one of the best books I read last yesr. Jane the Virgin and Crazy Ex Girlfriend hit those adjectives for me. I also enjoyed Tick Tick Boom.
Cat
I had not read the book but once I saw it was based on another story from the Man Called Ove author, it was an immediate must watch.
Anonnymouse
Not on Netflix (sorry) but Somebody Somewhere on HBO totally fits the bill.
Anon
Not Netflix but if you liked “Home for Christmas” you’ll also like “This Way Up” on Hulu.
Anonymous
You are very welcome here in Scandi!
If you can find these movies, watch:
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0197402/
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0269389/
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0150662/
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt10370710/ or anything earlier from this director
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0243862/
These should help your algorithm along.
anon
From another scandinavian, this is a solid list and I approve. :)
Cat
Ooh this came out of mod after I replied below – thanks so much!
Cat
thanks! We don’t do HBO or Hulu but will check out Tick Tick Boom next :)
anon board member
I just left some thoughts for the nonprofit board member with an issue this morning on the morning thread. Please check there and best wishes!
Anon
I get that the world gets frustrated at Americans who only speak English. I have taken various languages in school since I was 6. I even lived overseas for a while (where many, many people thought: here is a good opportunity to practice the English we learned in school with a native speaker for once, which I was fine with, but not so good for me becoming fluent in their language). I understand a lot if it is written. I “get” the grammar, tenses, genders, etc. But I’m just not ever going to do anything but struggle with conversation.
How can I, where I can drive hours and still run into English speakers, do better? I’ve tried watching TV and do just fine with Sabado Gigante (etc.), but that only goes so far. And for my kids who are learning Spanish, anything better I can do for them? I must look Anglo because people see me and switch into English (so I don’t even get to struggle in Spanish, which is probably my best language).
I get that some people struggle with learning a second language, but I was one of the ones for whom the book learning part was actually easy and I loved it. But the “behind the wheel” aspects of it are just hard to go.
Anon
I think if you’re not regularly using it, you can’t really become fluent in a language or you will lose fluency as time goes on.
Anon
I think the key is really immersing yourself in it, like living in another country.
But why are you beating yourself up about this? Do you need to speak another language?
Anon
I studied a new language intently before a trip abroad, and it really didn’t matter how much grammar and vocabulary I knew, it wasn’t until I was immersed in the language for a month during my trip and very few people spoke English that it really clicked for me.
So short of relocating internationally, I don’t think there’s much you can do. Watching tv in the language is helpful for your ears to catch the speed and emphasis.
Anon
Use your Spanish where you can. I often order in Spanish at one of my favorite local lunch spots and the workers correct me when needed and often teach me new phrases. In my experience, people like it when others engage them in their native language.
Senior Attorney
How about hiring a native speaker to come over to your house and talk to you and your kids? Like a tutor but more casual.
Anonymous
This is a thing on Fiverr.com, if you’d be up for a digital conversation tutor.
I put in Spanish conversation in the search box and got more than a hundred hits. Scrolling a little, I found one Colombian woman who offers 40 minute conversation training (not classes) for 5 dollars, I’m guessing those sort of tutors would be ideal for you, just talking and correcting your accent.
Anonyme
I’m currently working on improving my French skills, and I hear you — it’s hard! I’m trying to automate French into my life. I listen to French podcasts, read French news, check out French books at the library, watch French series/YouTube. My comprehension is so much better than it was six months ago. As for speaking, I’ve been taking online French conversation classes with a trained instructor who is a native speaker. She is trained in language pedagogy, and it shows. She points out grammatical quirks, gently corrects our errors, shows us video clips to inspire debate. I’d highly recommend committing to a regularly scheduled session that will help you meet your language goals. It might be a language exchange with a conversation partner where you take turns speaking each other’s language and correcting each other, or a class. Without moving to another country, I think this is your best shot.
Anon
What specific company/service are you using for the conversation classes? Is it through the Alliance Française?
Anonyme
Yes, my classes are through l’Alliance Française. It’s the Seattle chapter, but you don’t have to live in Seattle to enroll in the classes. One of my classmates is in SF, and she said that the Seattle chapter has better instructors. :)
Anonym
Longer comment is in moderation, but the tldr is to build it into your day: podcasts, news, books, shows in the second language. And make some sort of regular commitment to practice speaking — you might have to pay for this.
No Face
Are there local conversation groups? I’ve seen these at the library. People just chat in another language.
Anon
OP here. You know, I think that there were, pre-COVID. Now that the weather is getting nicer, there maybe some again.
I keep thinking I will travel again at some point and while I can’t speak any Asian languages (so definitely relying on English being a common second language there), I just want to speak more competently for most interactions if I leave the U.S.
Anonymous
Volunteer at an immigrant-serving non profit! I worked for one for one year and that year took my language abilities to totally fluent. Obviously you wouldn’t be there 9 hours a day, but even a chance every week to speak your target language helps!!
Anonymous
Internations.org has a Global Spanish Speaking group where people meet on zoom to do different activities, some of them are native speakers other people like you. https://www.internations.org/activity-group/4455/wall
They have also local groups with in person activities but not in every location in USA.
Curious
I did the thing! I submitted a request for leave extension, got the paperwork, and sent it over to the oncologist. As usual, doing it was much easier than worrying about it. Thanks all for the advice on the right return to work timing a few days ago.
Senior Attorney
Hooray!
Curious
Thank you for the constant cheers :). Less than one month to the end of chemo.
Anon
Does anyone type homophones from time to time? I never did this when I did more hand-writing. But now that I primarily type, I find that I make mistakes and wonder if I’m geezing.
E.g., Service/surface, that sort of thing. It’s not even the same work (not like a their/they’re error, either).
Anon
Yes, but I also randomly find myself making stupid spelling errors. Today I almost sent an email where I spelled “once” as “wonce”
Curious
Oh my, yes, me too.
pugsnbourbon
“wonce” gets me. So does “shure,” but that’s also an audio equipment brand I used to order.
Curious
All the time. It started happening when I turned 30. I think my brain just got too full.
Ses
Yuuuup. But only when distracted. Please let me tell you about “softweare” which has become my new typo of choice.
And thanks for the new vocab. Was not familiar with geezing.
Anonymous
I love that Express suit pictured! Has anyone bought anything from them lately? I got some of their “supersoft twill” about a year ago and wasn’t impressed.